Cars are becoming more digital with internal sensors monitoring the engine and external sensors scanning the roadway for safety hazards. And that’s just the beginning.

Four cylinder supercars
Big engine cars will always be around. But four cylinder, turbo-charged engines are the future. They’ll deliver exceptional performance, which we can see evolving in cars like Volkswagen Golf R, AMG A45 or rally heritage Subaru WRX STI. Most automotive magazines expect by 2020 there will be a number of four cylinder engine performance cars capable of 320 kmph.

Better hybrids
With advancements in lithium batteries and engine management systems, hybrid cars will grow in popularity. This technology is an incredibly efficient way to power cars as seen in BMWi3, Toyota Prius and luxury Tesla Model S. We’ll soon see performance vehicles with near zero emissions and unbelievable fuel economy.

More carbon
It’s forecast in the next four years the automotive industry will be the number one consumer of carbon fibre. Its strength, stiffness and lightweight properties improve safety, fuel economy and performance. Many car parts, where reduced weight benefits performance, will be constructed with carbon fibre.

Augmented reality dashboards
Car companies are predicting by 2020, Heads Up Display (HUP) will feature active glass capable of displaying vibrant, realistic images. Navigation systems are being developed to highlight the next turn, seen from the driver’s perspective as the turn is being approached.

Autonomous vehicles
We’ll soon have cars capable of being fully autonomous in certain circumstances, most likely on freeways with minimal variable conditions. The early stages of this technology are present today in BMW 7 series, Tesla S P90D, Volvo XC 90 and Audi A7. There’s no doubt our motor vehicles will be performing and making more decisions than us in the near future.

Car-to-car communication
Cars will be able to alert one another of accidents, roadblocks and bad weather conditions. They’ll communicate with each other, providing important information and helping other vehicles to stay safe and steer clear of danger. This technology is being launched at the end of this year in the 90s series Volvos including the Volvo V90 Cross Country.

New tyres for the future
Advances in tyre technology and innovation will see new tyre compositions and tread designs evolving. They’ll produce incredible road handling stability and powerful traction for performance vehicles.

We can expect to see digitally optimised tyres on supercars in five years. Through a chip inside the rubber, tyres will be able to communicate with the car, to increase dynamics and road handling. More visionary advances in research include tyres that transform themselves to respond to driving conditions, and self-renewing tyres that replace their grooves as the old ones wear down.

Airless tyres and self air pressurising tyres will see us never having to worry about getting a puncture or adjusting tyre pressure. Overall, our tyres will become safer, greener and perform better for us.

Bridgestone is at the forefront of performance tyre innovation. Each year they invest more than $800 million in the research and development of tyres. Whether it’s high performance technology, durability or all round comfort, there’s a Bridgestone tyre that will deliver the control and responsiveness to keep you safe.

What new technology would you like to see in cars of the near future? Let us know in the comments below.